Looking ahead to Belgium – the ultimate circuit.

Formula 1 may be on its summer break, but I am already looking ahead to what is personally my favourite circuit – Spa Francorchamps.

I think all I need to say is Belgium 1998 and everyone will know why this is my favourite circuit. Being a big Damon Hill fan this extraordinary race just cemented its place for me as the ultimate race track.

But it wasn’t just that Grand Prix, over the years we have had many classic races there.

The circuit hasn’t changed much over recent years. Whilst updates have been made to improve the facilities it has kept the classic feel that goes with it, especially the start of the circuit with La Source and Eau Rouge, which has remained much the same since the 1960’s.

For me, it’s the little touches that make this circuit stand out. For starters it doesn’t have a boring Turn 1, Turn 2 etc. it has real names for the corners, which can be a rarity with modern circuits. La Source, Eau Rouge, Raidillon, Pouhon, Blanchimont – there is just something about the names that gets me excited.

The weather there is always unpredictable as well. Sitting in the midst of the Ardennes Forest it is often changeable and wet/dry races are a fairly common occurrence.

This combined with the circuit’s long straights and perfect mix of fast and slow corners, results in incredible racing. Often we see multiple cars going in to one corner, and of course in the past this has sometimes resulted in huge crashes. The first corner pile up in 2012 and just two years ago Kevin Magnussen in 2014 having a huge crash going through Raidillon were a timely reminder of how dangerous the sport still is.

Another thing that Spa also seems to attract is a fair amount of controversy. In 1998 Schumacher storming down the pit lane pretty much ready to punch Coulthard after colliding. 2008 Hamilton penalised for cutting a corner whilst battling Raikkonen. And Rosberg and Hamilton colliding in 2014. There always seems to be something going on.

Ultimately though all of this just enhances the entertainment factor and adds to the drama of the whole Grand Prix and Formula 1.

So you can see why I cannot wait for this year’s race. In a season of ups and downs, and with the championship currently wide open for the taking, this race could be a significant turning point for the end result. Not much is between the top two Hamilton and Vettel, and this could be the circuit where we finally get to see them race wheel to wheel. Will Spa serve up another controversial moment? It won’t be long until we find out.

I never want to imagine an F1 calendar without this circuit, so it’s safe to say that when they signed a new contract to remain in the sport for years to come, I was nothing short of delighted.

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